System and method for use of a media content bot in a social messaging environment

ABSTRACT

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system and method for enabling use of a media content bot in a social messaging environment that supports group chat. A conversational agent, generally referred to as a “bot”, can leverage a user&#39;s interaction with the bot, to access a media server, which in turn can determine one or more items of media content appropriate for the user and/or their interaction. During a group chat, the bot can recognize music commands within the context of a particular discussion, and/or utilize music recommendation services provided by a digital media content environment, to determine items of media content appropriate for the group of users and/or their interaction. The system enables the use of media playback controls within the group chat, enabling the group of users to determine how and which media content is to be played.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. patent application titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE OF A MEDIACONTENT BOT IN A SOCIAL MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT”, application Ser. No.15/856,960, filed Dec. 28, 2017; which claims the benefit of priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application titled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE OFA MEDIA CONTENT BOT IN A SOCIAL MESSAGING ENVIRONMENT”, Application No.62/440,843, filed Dec. 30, 2016; each of which above applications areherein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are generally related to providing digitalmedia content, and are particularly related to a system and method forenabling use of a media content bot in a social messaging environmentthat supports group chat.

BACKGROUND

In a social messaging environment that supports conversationalmessaging, for example through the use of a conversational agent or“bot”, an increasingly common mode of user interaction is for users tocommunicate within a group chat or discussion. Often, the topic of auser's preference in music may arise within the context of a group chat.However, even if users are (physically) present in the same physicalroom, and are (virtually) present in the same group chat room, there maybe no way for users to interact in such a manner as to control whichmusic is playing in the physical room, or for the users to engage at thesame time with a bot to control music playback or receive musicrecommendations.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system andmethod for enabling use of a media content bot in a social messagingenvironment that supports group chat. A conversational agent, generallyreferred to as a “bot”, can leverage a user's interaction with the bot,to access a media server, which in turn can determine one or more itemsof media content appropriate for the user and/or their interaction.During a group chat, the bot can recognize music commands within thecontext of a particular discussion, and/or utilize music recommendationservices provided by a digital media content environment, to determineitems of media content appropriate for the group of users and/or theirinteraction. The system enables the use of media playback controlswithin the group chat, enabling the group of users to determine how andwhich media content is to be played.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an example digital media content environment, inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system which enables access to media content from asocial messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates the use of a social messaging environment with adigital media content environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the use of social messaging environment witha digital media content environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of a media content bot in a social messagingenvironment that supports group chat, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process of enabling use of a media content bot in asocial messaging environment that supports group chat, in accordancewith an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, although a social messaging environment thatsupports conversational messaging may allow users to communicate in agroup chat or discussion, there may be no way for users to interact insuch a manner as to control which music is playing, or for the users toengage at the same time with a bot to control music playback or receivemusic recommendations.

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein is a system andmethod for enabling use of a media content bot in a social messagingenvironment that supports group chat. A conversational agent, generallyreferred to as a “bot”, can leverage a user's interaction with the bot,to access a media server, which in turn can determine one or more itemsof media content appropriate for the user and/or their interaction.During a group chat, the bot can recognize music commands within thecontext of a particular discussion, and/or utilize music recommendationservices provided by a digital media content environment, to determineitems of media content appropriate for the group of users and/or theirinteraction. The system enables the use of media playback controlswithin the group chat, enabling the group of users to determine how andwhich media content is to be played.

Digital Media Content Environments

FIG. 1 illustrates an example digital media content environment, inaccordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment, a mediadevice 102, operating as a client device, can receive and play mediacontent provided by a media server system 142 (media server), or byanother system or peer device. In accordance with an embodiment, themedia device can be, for example, a personal computer system, handheldentertainment device, tablet device, smartphone, television, audiospeaker, in-car entertainment system, or other type of electronic ormedia device that is adapted or able to prepare a media content forpresentation, control the presentation of media content, and/or play orotherwise present media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, each of the media device and the mediaserver can include, respectively, one or more physical device orcomputer hardware resources 104, 144, such as one or more processors(CPU), physical memory, network components, or other types of hardwareresources.

Although, for purposes of illustration, a single client media device andmedia server are shown, in accordance with an embodiment a media servercan support the simultaneous use of a plurality of client media devices.Similarly, in accordance with an embodiment, a client media device canaccess media content provided by a plurality of media servers, or switchbetween different media streams produced by one or more media servers.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media device can optionallyinclude a touch-enabled or other type of display screen having a userinterface 106, which is adapted to display media options, for example asan array of media tiles, thumbnails, or other format, and to determine auser interaction or input. Selecting a particular media option, forexample a particular media tile or thumbnail, can be used as a commandby a user and/or the media device, to the media server, to download,stream or otherwise access a corresponding particular media content itemor stream of media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media device can also include asoftware media application 108, together with an in-memory client-sidemedia content buffer 110, and a client-side data buffering logic orsoftware component 112, which can be provided as software or programcode that is executable by a computer system or other processing device,and which can be used to control the playback of media content receivedfrom the media server, for playing either at a requesting media device(i.e., controlling device) or at a controlled media device (i.e.,controlled device), in the manner of a remote control.

In accordance with an embodiment, a connected media environment logic orsoftware component 120, which can be provided as software or programcode that is executable by a computer system or other processing device,can be provided at the media device, either as part of the mediaapplication, or separately, for example as a firmware, to enable themedia device to participate within a connected media environment (e.g.,a Spotify Connect environment) that enables a user to control theplayback of media content at such controlled devices.

In accordance with an embodiment, the client-side data buffering logic,together with the media content buffer, enables a portion of mediacontent items, or samples thereof, to be pre-buffered at a client mediadevice. For example, while media options are being prepared for displayon a user interface, e.g., as media tiles or thumbnails, their relatedmedia content can be pre-buffered at the same time, and cached by one ormore media devices in their media content buffers, for prompt andefficient playback when required.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media server can include anoperating system 146 or other processing environment which supportsexecution of a media server 150 that can be used, for example, to streammusic, video, or other forms of media content to a client media device,or to a controlled device.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media server can provide asubscription-based media streaming service, for which a client mediadevice or user can have an associated account and credentials, and whichenable the user's media device to communicate with and receive contentfrom the media server. A received media-access request from a clientmedia device can include information such as, for example, a networkaddress, which identifies a destination media device to which the mediaserver should stream or otherwise provide media content, in response toprocessing the media-access request.

For example, a user may own several media devices, such as a smartphoneand an audio speaker, which can play media content received from a mediaserver. In accordance with an embodiment, identifying informationprovided with a media-access request can include an identifier, such asan IP address, MAC address, or device name, which identifies that themedia-access request is intended for use with a particular destinationdevice. This allows a user, for example, to use their smartphone as acontrolling device, and their audio speaker as a controlled device towhich media content should be sent. The media server can then send therequested media and/or forward the media-access request to the audiospeaker, even though the request originated at the user's smartphone.

In accordance with an embodiment, one or more application interface(s)148 can receive requests from client media devices, or from othersystems, to retrieve media content from the media server. A contextdatabase 162 can store data associated with the presentation of mediacontent by a client media device, including, for example, a currentposition within a media stream that is being presented by the mediadevice, or a playlist associated with the media stream, or one or morepreviously-indicated user playback preferences. The media server cantransmit context information associated with a media stream to a mediadevice that is presenting that stream, so that the context informationcan be used by the device, and/or displayed to the user. The contextdatabase can be used to store a media device's current media state atthe media server, and synchronize that state between devices, in acloud-like manner. Alternatively, media state can be shared in apeer-to-peer manner, wherein each device is aware of its own currentmedia state which is then synchronized with other devices as needed.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, when the destinationmedia device to which the media content is being streamed changes, sayfrom a controlling device to a controlled device, or from a firstcontrolled device to a second controlled device, then the media servercan transmit context information associated with an active media contentto the newly-appointed destination device, for use by that device inplaying the media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, a media content database 164 caninclude media content, for example music, songs, videos, movies, orother media content, together with metadata describing that mediacontent. The metadata can be used to enable users and client mediadevices to search within repositories of media content, to locateparticular media content items.

In accordance with an embodiment, a server-side media content bufferinglogic or software component 180, which can be provided as software orprogram code that is executable by a computer system or other processingdevice, can be used to retrieve or otherwise access media content items,in response to requests from client media devices or other systems, andto populate a server-side media content buffer 181, at a media deliverycomponent or streaming service 152, which can be similarly provided assoftware or program code that is executable by a computer system orother processing device, with streams 182, 184, 186 of correspondingmedia content data, which can then be returned to the requesting deviceor to a controlled device.

In accordance with an embodiment, a plurality of client media devices,media server systems, and/or controlled devices, can communicate withone another using a network, for example the Internet 190, a local areanetwork, peer-to-peer connection, wireless or cellular network, or otherform of network. For example, a user 192 can interact 194 with the userinterface at a client media device, and issue requests to access mediacontent, for example the playing of a selected music or video item attheir device, or at a controlled device, or the streaming of a mediachannel or video stream to their device, or to a controlled device.

In accordance with an embodiment, the user's selection of a particularmedia option can be communicated 196 to the media server, via theserver's application interface. The media server can populate itsserver-side media content buffer at the server 204, with correspondingmedia content, 206 including one or more streams of media content data,and can then communicate 208 the selected media content to the user'smedia device, or to a controlled device as appropriate, where it can bebuffered in a client-side media content buffer for playing at thedevice.

In accordance with an embodiment, and as further described below, thesystem can include a server-side media gateway or access point 220,which can be provided as software or program code that is executable bya computer system or other processing device, or other process orcomponent, which operates as a load balancer in providing access to oneor more servers, for use in processing requests at those servers. Thesystem can enable communication between a client media device and aserver, via an access point at the server, and optionally the use of oneor more routers, to allow requests from the client media device to beprocessed either at that server and/or at other servers.

For example, in a Spotify media content environment, Spotify clientsoperating on media devices can connect to various Spotify back-endprocesses via a Spotify “accesspoint”, which forwards client requests toother servers, such as sending one or more metadataproxy requests to oneof several metadataproxy machines, on behalf of the client or end user.

Access to Media Content from Social Messaging Environments

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can enable access todigital media content via a social messaging environment, for examplethrough the use of a client-side messaging application, or a softwareconversational agent or “bot”. The media server can recommend orotherwise determine items of media content appropriate to a particularuser interaction. The recommended media content can be provided to amedia device, in the form of a link or other type of reference by whichthe user of the device can stream, download, access, or otherwise usethe media content.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system that enables access to media content from asocial messaging environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in accordance with an embodiment, a socialmessaging environment 240 enables, for each user, a user environment 244that provides a user experience, and the use of a messaging application246 that enables interaction by the user with the social messagingenvironment and with other users.

In accordance with various embodiments, different types of socialmessaging environments can be supported, including, for example, socialnetworking or social media environments (e.g., Instagram), which supportthe sharing of picture-based or other messages between different users,or social messaging environments (e.g., Facebook Messenger) whichsupport the use of a media content bot that operates according to a botconversation logic to provide access to a media content environment.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media server can include arecommendation application program interface (API), which is accessible,e.g., via a HTTP URL, and which provides access to a recommendationengine 252 that provides media content recommendations in response tointeractions or conversations with the social messaging environment.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, during the interaction248 by a user with the social messaging environment, the messagingapplication or bot can access the media server, via the recommendationAPI, and provide a user interaction information 245, to therecommendation engine, for its use in determining a media contentrecommendation 249, and populating 250 the media delivery component orstreaming service with the recommended media content 251.

The media server can then return, as part of the conversation or otherinteraction with the user, a media content recommendation in the form ofa link or other type of reference by which the user of the device canstream, download, access, or otherwise use the media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, the recommendation engine candetermine a media content recommendation based on criteria such as, forexample, a user's prior listening history, or favorite media content;other user characteristics such as demographic information;external-sourced information, such as the current weather at the user'slocations; or other types of criteria.

In accordance with an embodiment, once the link or other type ofreference to access the recommended media content has been returned tothe media device as part of the interaction, it can be processed by themedia device, to request that the recommended media content be returnedeither to the media device or to a controlled device, for playback atthat device.

For example, the link or reference to an item of media content can beprovided as:

-   -   https://open.spotify.com/track/01G6a8O85SXIH05upiDN1N

The above link can then be passed or otherwise processed by a mediaserver web service API, to request the associated media content.

In accordance with various embodiments, the messaging application ormedia content bot can either operate anonymously, or can perform anauthentication or account verification at the media server, for example,to indicate the user as a Spotify user, and customize the responseaccordingly.

Conversational Social Messaging Environments

In accordance with an embodiment, the system enables the use of aconversational agent or bot which, which can be provided as software orprogram code that is executable by a computer system or other processingdevice, and provides a conversation-like interaction with a user,including simulating how a human participant might respond or otherwisebehave as a conversational partner in response to input from the user.

For example, depending on the particular use case, a bot can beconfigured to scan for particular keywords within a text received asuser input during a conversation with the bot, and respond accordinglyto those keywords. Alternatively, the bot can be configured to employnatural language processing (NLP), to extract semantic or other usefulinformation from the conversational text, and provide a more complexresponse.

In accordance with an embodiment, the system can employ a media contentbot, which leverages a user's interaction with the bot, to access amedia server, which in turn can determine one or more items of mediacontent that are appropriate for the user and/or their interaction.

The recommended or otherwise determined media content can then beprovided to the user, or to a media device, in the form of a link,playlist, or other type of reference by which the user can stream,download, access, or otherwise use the recommended media content.

FIG. 3 illustrates the use of a social messaging environment with adigital media content environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment, a socialmessaging environment enables a messaging application to be used by auser, to interact with the social messaging environment.

In accordance with an embodiment, the social messaging environment canprovide a bot store 250, which operates as a shelf of one or moreavailable bot(s) 252, which can be selected and installed 254 by a user,to operate within their user environment.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, the store can include amedia content bot 260, which includes and operates according to a botconversation logic 262. Once installed, the media content bot can beused to provide access to a media content environment, from within asocial messaging environment.

Depending on how the media content bot is configured, it can act in areactive manner, awaiting an input from a user, or can act proactively,sending messages to the user in the manner of a push-notification.

In accordance with an embodiment, during the interaction with the mediacontent bot, the bot can access the media content environment 270, andprovide interaction information for use in determining a media contentrecommendation; and, if appropriate, populating the media deliverycomponent or streaming service with the appropriate recommended mediacontent, for delivery either to the user's media device (208) or toanother device (209), for example a controlled device 272, such as anaudio speaker or other output device.

FIG. 4 further illustrates the use of social messaging environment witha digital media content environment, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in accordance with an embodiment, the systemcan respond at appropriate points during a bot interaction 280 orconversation by the user with the media content bot, for example inresponse to a user's text input or communication with the system or withother users.

In accordance with an embodiment, the user's interaction information canbe communicated to the media server via the recommendation API, as inputto the recommendation engine.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media server can then return tothe media content bot, as part of the conversation or interaction withthe user, a media content recommendation, in the form of a link,playlist, or other type of reference by which the user, or thecontrolled device, can stream, download, access, or otherwise use therecommended media content.

In accordance with an embodiment, once the reference to access therecommended media content has been returned to the user as part of aninteraction, it can be processed by the user's media device as describedabove, to request that the recommended media content be returned eitherto the media device, or to a controlled or other device, for playback atthat device.

In response to receiving such a request, the media server can stream orbuffer the recommended media content.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, the media content bot canbe configured to parse a stream of input text within a user environmentfor, e.g., an artist name, such as the user indicating “My favoriteartist is Rihanna”. The artist name can be passed from the media contentbot to the recommendation API. The resultant information received fromthe recommendation API can be provided in the manner of a conversation,e.g. “Thanks, do you want to hear some new tracks from Rihanna?”, andcan return a link, playlist, or other type of reference to that item ofmedia content

In accordance with an embodiment, the media content bot can eitheroperate anonymously, or can perform an authentication or accountverification, for example, to indicate the user as a Spotify user.

Depending on how the bot is configured, when a link, playlist, or othertype of reference to an item of media content, is returned to a user'smedia device, the device can be either directed to a landing page (e.g.,in a Web browser, or an app), or can request the user to log in, or canplay the songs anonymously without requiring a login.

In accordance with an embodiment, when the media content bot is providedwithin the context of a connected media environment, the bot can alsoprompt the user to determine, for example, whether the recommended mediacontent should be played on the user's media device, or at another(i.e., controlled) device.

Media Content Bots and Group Chat Environments

In accordance with an embodiment, the system enables use of a mediacontent bot in a social messaging environment that supports group chat.

During a group chat, the bot can recognize music commands within thecontext of a particular discussion, and/or utilize music recommendationservices provided by a digital media content environment, to determineitems of media content appropriate for the group of users and/or theirinteraction.

The system enables the use of media playback controls within the groupchat, enabling the group of users to determine how and which mediacontent is to be played.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of a media content bot in a social messagingenvironment that supports group chat, in accordance with an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, in accordance with an embodiment, asadditional users 290 interact with or otherwise participate 292 in the(group) bot interaction, for example as part of a group chat 294, thebot can similarly access the media content environment 295, and providegroup interaction information, for use in determining a media contentrecommendation.

In this manner, the media content bot can operate in the form of anassistant or concierge, to assist the group of users in determining, orexample, an appropriate media content to play, or at which device themedia content should be played.

As described above, in accordance with an embodiment, the media servercan then respond, if appropriate, by populating the media deliverycomponent or streaming service with the appropriate recommended mediacontent, for delivery to a device, for example to an audio speaker orother controlled output device, reflecting a group-directed control 296.

For example, in accordance with an embodiment, the system enablesmultiple users, who may or may not be physically present in a same room,to participate in a group chat in such a manner as to control whichmusic is to be played in that room.

As another example, in accordance with an embodiment, the system enablesmultiple users to engage, at the same time, with a bot as part of agroup chat, to control the selection of music playback, or to receivemusic recommendations.

In accordance with an embodiment, the media content bot can beconfigured to help guide users within the context of a group chat ordiscussion, to control the playback of a particular media content, asillustrated in the example interaction below:

Media Content Bot: Users (Group Chat): How can I help you? (Oscar): PlayJustin Bieber . /spotify queue Justin Bieber . (Media Content Bot): Surething, Oscar!

As illustrated above, each user can interact with the media content bot,for example to request that a particular item of media content beplayed. However, as the group further interacts with the media contentbot, the bot can respond accordingly, for example:

Media Content Bot: Users (Group Chat): How can I help you? (Oscar): PlayJustin Bieber . /spotify queue Justin Bieber . (Media Content Bot): Surething, Oscar! . (Alva): Noooo . /spotify skip Justin Bieber

For example, in this illustration, the media content bot can beconfigured to respond by waiting, until the group has generally agreedon a next song to play, and instructed the bot accordingly, at whichpoint the bot can proceed as directed:

Media Content Bot: Users (Group Chat): How can I help you? (Oscar): PlayJustin Bieber . /spotify queue Justin Bieber . (Media Content Bot): Surething, Oscar! . (Alva): Noooo . /spotify skip Justin Bieber . (Matt):/spotify queue VHS head . (Alva): Niice . /spotify play Billy Joel PlayBilly Joel next!

The above interaction is provided by way of example, to illustrate aninteraction between a group of users and a media content bot within thecontext of a group chat or discussion, in accordance with a particularembodiment. In accordance with other embodiments, other types or formsof media content bots and interactions can be supported.

In accordance with an embodiment, a similar approach can also be used toenable the group to control other aspects of their physical or virtualenvironment, via the media content bot and a group chat, for example bycontrolling the ambient lighting of their room or the volume at which amedia content is played, or by determining to promote a particularartist within a social messaging environment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process of enabling use of a media content bot in asocial messaging environment that supports group chat, in accordancewith an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in accordance with an embodiment, at step 302,a social messaging environment that supports conversational messaging isprovided, which enables a messaging application to be used by a user, tointeract with a media content bot, and access a media contentenvironment.

At step 304, during the interaction with the media content bot, the botprovides interaction information to the media content environment, andprovides interaction information, for use in determining an appropriatemedia, and populating a media delivery component or streaming servicewith the appropriate media content, for delivery to at least one of theuser's media device or to a controlled device.

At step 306, additional users can use a messaging application, tointeract with the media content bot and original user as part of a groupchat, for use in accessing the media content environment as part of thegroup chat.

At step 308, while additional users interact with or otherwiseparticipate in the group chat, the media content bot enables the groupof users to direct the media server to control the playing of anappropriate media content at a controlled or other destination device.

Embodiments of the present invention may be conveniently implementedusing one or more conventional general purpose or specialized digitalcomputer, computing device, machine, or microprocessor, including one ormore processors, memory and/or computer readable storage mediaprogrammed according to the teachings of the present disclosure.Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilledprogrammers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will beapparent to those skilled in the software art.

In some embodiments, the present invention includes a computer programproduct which is a non-transitory storage medium or computer readablemedium (media) having instructions stored thereon/in which can be usedto program a computer to perform any of the processes of the presentinvention. Examples of the storage medium can include, but is notlimited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical discs, DVD,CD-ROMs, microdrive, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs,EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic or optical cards,nanosystems (including molecular memory ICs), or any type of media ordevice suitable for storing instructions and/or data.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the present invention hasbeen provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the preciseforms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent tothe practitioner skilled in the art.

For example, while the techniques described above generally illustrateexamples such as a music streaming service such as Spotify, and streamedmusic or song content, the systems and techniques described herein canbe similarly used with other types of media content environments, andother types of streamed data or media content.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical application, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with various modifications that are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for enabling use of a media content botin a social messaging environment that supports group chat, comprising:a conversational agent provided within a social messaging environment,and operating as a media content bot, which participates in aninteraction with a plurality of client media devices associated with aplurality of users as part of a group chat, including recognizing mediacontent commands received within the group chat, and responds to thereceived media content commands by: the accessing a media server via anapplication programming interface and providing interaction informationassociated with the group chat to the media server, includingcommunications received during the group chat, for use by the mediaserver in determining one or more recommended items of media content,receiving, from the media server, links or references to the one or morerecommended items of media content, and updating the group chat,including providing an identification of the one or more recommendeditems of media content for delivery to one or more of the plurality ofclient media devices; and wherein the links or references received fromthe media server are used for playback of the one or more recommendeditems of media content at one or more of the plurality of client mediadevices associated with the plurality of users as part of the groupchat.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables the pluralityof users, who may or may not be physically present in the same room, toparticipate in a group chat in such a manner as to control which musicis playing.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system enables theplurality of users to engage, at the same time, with a bot as part of agroup chat, to control music playback or to receive musicrecommendations.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the media content botis provided within the context of a connected media environment, whichdetermines whether the recommended items of media content should beplayed on a user's media device, or at another, controlled device atwhich the user has enabled playback of media content.
 5. A method ofproviding access to digital media content within a conversational socialmessaging environment that supports group chat, comprising: providing aconversational agent within a social messaging environment, operating asa media content bot, which participates in an interaction with aplurality of client media devices associated with a plurality of usersas part of a group chat, including recognizing media content commandsreceived within the group chat, and responds to the received mediacontent commands by: accessing a media server via an applicationprogramming interface and providing interaction information associatedwith the group chat to the media server, including communicationsreceived during the group chat, for use by the media server indetermining one or more recommended items of media content, receiving,from the media server, links or references to the one or morerecommended items of media content, and updating the group chat,including providing an identification of the one or more recommendeditems of media content for delivery to one or more of the plurality ofclient media devices; and wherein the links or references received fromthe media server are used for playback of the one or more recommendeditems of media content at one or more of the plurality of client mediadevices associated with the plurality of users as part of the groupchat.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the system enables the pluralityof users, who may or may not be physically present in the same room, toparticipate in a group chat in such a manner as to control which musicis playing.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the system enables theplurality of users to engage, at the same time, with a bot as part of agroup chat, to control music playback or to receive musicrecommendations.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the media content botis provided within the context of a connected media environment, whichdetermines whether the recommended items of media content should beplayed on a user's media device, or at another, controlled device atwhich the user has enabled playback of media content.
 9. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium, including instructionsstored thereon which when read and executed by one or more computerscause one or more computers to perform steps comprising: providing aconversational agent within a social messaging environment, operating asa media content bot, which participates in an interaction with aplurality of client media devices associated with a plurality of usersas part of a group chat, including recognizing media content commandsreceived within the group chat, and responds to the received mediacontent commands by: accessing a media server via an applicationprogramming interface and providing interaction information associatedwith the group chat to the media server, including communicationsreceived during the group chat, for use by the media server indetermining one or more recommended items of media content, receiving,from the media server, links or references to the one or morerecommended items of media content, and updating the group chat,including providing an identification of the one or more recommendeditems of media content for delivery to one or more of the plurality ofclient media devices; and wherein the links or references received fromthe media server are used for playback of the one or more recommendeditems of media content at one or more of the plurality of client mediadevices associated with the plurality of users as part of the groupchat.
 10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim9, wherein the system enables the plurality of users, who may or may notbe physically present in the same room, to participate in a group chatin such a manner as to control which music is playing.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein thesystem enables the plurality of users to engage, at the same time, witha bot as part of a group chat, to control music playback or to receivemusic recommendations.
 12. The non-transitory computer readable storagemedium of claim 9, wherein the media content bot is provided within thecontext of a connected media environment, which determines whether therecommended items of media content should be played on a user's mediadevice, or at another, controlled device at which the user has enabledplayback of media content.